Pub pulls plug on music night (From Southend Standard)

Southend pub pulls plug on music night

8:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

A PUB which has held a live music night every Sunday for five years has had to pull the plug on the event.

The Castle Hotel on Eastern Esplanade, Southend, was told by noise officers at Southend Council it could face a fine of £20,000 if loud music continued.

The pub’s rock and roll nights have been a big hit with locals and the biker community. Licensee Janet Hills said: “I’m not saying people don’t have the right to complain if it was loud but the music finishes at 10.20pm. It’s hardly late.”

The council sent a letter to Mrs Hills stating “an abatement notice will be served on you” if it received any more complaints.

A breach of the notice would mean the council seizing music equipment and the possibility of a fine up to £20,000. The letter added that a breach could also lead to a potential withdrawal of Mrs Hills’s licence.

Mrs Hills has now stopped the rock ‘n’ roll evenings.

Adam Penn, Southend Council’s team leader for regulatory services, said: “The council has received 15 complaints about loud music at this pub. We have alerted the licensees about these complaints and given advice on how to solve this problem.”